Locks

ABSTRACT

For use in the formation of a lock a continuous one-piece moulding in plastics material which comprises a first portion and two further portions contiguous with the first portion at a pair of hinge strips, the first portion defining a channel into which one of the further portions can be swung and the other further portion being swingable against the first portion to close the channel thereby to form a hollow lock body and to restrict swinging movement of said one further portion which latter portion is formed to then serve as a lock bolt head movable between a position in which it extends from an end of the hollow lock body and a retracted position in which it is swung inwardly of the body.

United States Patent 1 Plaw [451 Oct. 23, 1973 LOCKS [75] Inventor: Graeme Raymond Plaw,

Nunawading, Australia [73] Assignee: The Stanley Works Pty. Ltd.,

Nunawading, Australia [22] Filed: May 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 255,527

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 25, 1971 Australia 4995 52 us. Cl. 292/227, 292/010. 38 [51] Int. Cl. E05c 3/08 [58] Field of Search 292/76, 77,- 86, 202,

292/219, 225, 227, 228, DIG. 38

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,381 12/1919 Bradshaw 292/219 3,466,076 9/1969 Bisbing 292/109 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Att0mey-.lames E. Alix [57] ABSTRACT For use in the formation of a lock a continuous onepiece moulding in plastics material which comprises a first portion and two further portions contiguous with the first portion at a pair of hinge strips, the first portion defining a channel into which one of the further portions can be swung and the other further portion being swingable against the first portion to close the channel thereby to form a hollow lock body and to restrict swinging movement of said one further portion which latter portion is formed to then serve as a lock bolt head movable between a position in which it ex tends from an end of the hollow lock body and a retracted position in which it is swung inwardly of the body.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures LKS This invention relates to locks and has particular application to cupboard locks designed for push button operation.

One common form of push button release cupboard lock comprises a hollow lock body to which there is hinged a bolt head swingable between a position in which it projects from one end of the body and a retracted position in which it is swung into the body. Some form of biasing means is provided to bias the bolt head towards its outwardly projecting position but a press button device is provided to push the bolt head back to its retracted position against the action of the biasing spring. This movement of the bolt head may, for example, be achieved via a plunger connected to the push button and extendinginto the interior of the body to engage the bolt head. Normally the hollow lock body and the bolt head are made from a number of separate metal components which must be assembled and fastened together. The present invention enables a very much cheaper construction inwhich a number of components can be formed together from plastics material in such a way that assembly time is minimised.

According to the invention there is provided, for use in the formation of a lock, a continuous one-piece moulding in plastics material which comprises a first portion and two further portions contiguous with the first portion at a pair of hinge strips, the first portion defining a channel into which one of the further portions can be swung and the other further portion being swingable against the first portion to close the channel thereby to form a hollow lock body and to restrict swinging movement of said one further portion which latter portion is formed to then serve as a lock bolt head movable between a position in which it extends from an end of the hollow lock body and a retractedposition in which it is swung inwardly of the body.

Said further portions may be disposed at the opposite ends of the channel defined by the first portion. The channel in the first portion may be'open at the end to which the bolt head portion is disposed and closed at its other end by an end wall part of the first portion. Said other further portion may be generally of plate formation.

In order that the invention may be more fully explained, one particular embodiment will now be described in some detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan of one plastics moulding of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show the manner in which the moulding is used in the formation of a lock; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the installation of the completed lock. v

The illustrated moulding comprises a first portion ill I and two further portions 12, 13 Portion 11 defines an open topped channel 14, the portions 12, 13 being disposed at opposite ends of this channel and contiguous with the portion ll at hinge strips 16, 17. The end of channel 14 to which the portion 13 is disposed is closed by an end wall 18 and the hinge strip 17 extends across the upper edge of this end wall.

The moulding is formed of a plastics material of a type known to be strong and tough and with which strong hinges can be formed by the moulding of strips such as 16, 17 of reduced cross-section. It may, for example, be formed of polypropylene.

Portion ll 1 has a pair of flanges 19 projecting laterally from the upper edges of the channel 14 and these flanges are perforated by apertures 21 encircled by upstanding bosses 20. Portion 13 is formed to suit the outline of the flanges 19. It is provided with two outer apertures 22 and a central aperture 23.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show the manner in which the moulding is used in the formation of a complete lock. Firstly a resilient steel spring 24 is fitted to a seat 26 formed in the floor of the channel of the portion 11. Portion 12 is then swung inwardly of the channel so that its actuation plate part 27 engages the spring. The moulding portion 13 is then folded over onto the portion 11 to close the channel so as to form a hollow lock body and to hold the portion 12 such that it can then serve as a lock bolt head. The bosses 20 are a force fit in the apertures 22 so that the lock body is held together and the portion 13 is formed with a pair of lugs 28 disposed to either side of the central aperture 23 to engage the tip of the bolt head actuation plate 27 and so limit outward movement of the bolt head.

The other parts of the lock are completely conventional and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the lock is mounted on a door in conventional fashion. Securing screws 29 are passed through the aligned apertures 21, 22 and the door 30 into a knob or handle 31?. mounted on the front of the door. A push button 32 is formed integrally with a plunger 33 extending through the door and aperture 23 into the hollow lock body to engage the bolt head plate 27. Thus the bolt head can be swung inwardly by actuation of the push button so as to release the lock.

The installed lock can co-operate in conventional fashion with a striker 34 fastened to the door jamb 35.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated moulding enables very rapid assembly of a complete lock. Moreover the plastics components are cheaper than equivalent metal components. Thus significant savings in cost can be achieved. The illustrated construction has, how ever, been advanced by way of example only. It is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the details of this construction and that manymodifications and variations may be made to it without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in the formation of a lock, 8. continuous one-piece moulding in plastics material which comprises a first portion and two further portions contiguous with the first portion at a pair of hinge strips, the first portion defining a channel into which one of the further portions can be swung and the other further portion being swingable against the first portion to close the channel thereby to form a hollow lock body and to restrict swinging movement of said one further portion which latter portion is formed to then serve as a lock bolt head movable between a position in which it extends from an end of the hollow lock body and a retracted position in which it is swung inwardly of the body.

2. A moulding as claimed in claim ll, wherein said further portions are disposed at the opposite ends of the channel defined by the first portion.

3. A moulding as claimed in claim 2, wherein the channel in the first portion is open at the end to which the bolt head portion is disposed and closed at its other end by an end wall part of the first portion.

4. A moulding as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first portion has a pair of flanges projecting laterally outwardly from the mouth of the channel which flanges are perforated by apertures to receive mounting screws for mounting the lock body to a door.

5. A moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein said other further portion is generally of plate formation.

6. A moulding as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first portion has a pair of flanges projecting laterally outwardly from the mouth of the channel which flanges are perforated by apertures to receive mounting screws for mounting the lock body to a door, and wherein said other further portion is generally of plate formation, and wherein the outer periphery of said other further portion is shaped to match the the outer peripheries of said flanges when that portion is swung against the first portion to close the channel and is also provided with a pair of apertures to then align with the apertures in the flanges.

7. A moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one further portion includes an actuation plate part which will project inwardly of the lock body when the one further portion is swung into position to serve as a bolt head and said other further portion has a central aperture through which an actuator plunger can be extended to engage that actuation plate part.

8. A moulding as claimed in claim 7, wherein the restriction of swinging movement of said one further portion is caused by engagement of the actuation plate part with said other further portion.

9. An assembled lock having a lock body and bolt head formed as a continuous one-piece moulding as claimed in claim 1.

10. A lock as claimed in claim 8, wherein a biasing spring is disposed within the lock body to act between the body and the bolt head thereby to bias the bolt head outwardly of the body. 

1. For use in the formation of a lock, a continuous one-piece moulding in plastics material which comprises a first portion and two further portions contiguous with the first portion at a pair of hinge strips, the first portion defining a channel into which one of the further portions can be swung and the other further portion being swingable against the first portion to close the channel thereby to form a hollow lock body and to restrict swinging movement of said one further portion which latter portion is formed to then serve as a lock bolt head movable between a position in which it extends from an end of the hollow lock body and a retracted position in which it is swung inwardly of the body.
 2. A moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein said further portions are disposed at the opposite ends of the channel defined by the first portion.
 3. A moulding as claimed in claim 2, wherein the channel in the first portion is open at the end to which the bolt head portion is disposed and closed at its other end by an end wall part of the first portion.
 4. A moulding as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first portion has a pair of flanges projecting laterally outwardly froM the mouth of the channel which flanges are perforated by apertures to receive mounting screws for mounting the lock body to a door.
 5. A moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein said other further portion is generally of plate formation.
 6. A moulding as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first portion has a pair of flanges projecting laterally outwardly from the mouth of the channel which flanges are perforated by apertures to receive mounting screws for mounting the lock body to a door, and wherein said other further portion is generally of plate formation, and wherein the outer periphery of said other further portion is shaped to match the outer peripheries of said flanges when that portion is swung against the first portion to close the channel and is also provided with a pair of apertures to then align with the apertures in the flanges.
 7. A moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one further portion includes an actuation plate part which will project inwardly of the lock body when the one further portion is swung into position to serve as a bolt head and said other further portion has a central aperture through which an actuator plunger can be extended to engage that actuation plate part.
 8. A moulding as claimed in claim 7, wherein the restriction of swinging movement of said one further portion is caused by engagement of the actuation plate part with said other further portion.
 9. An assembled lock having a lock body and bolt head formed as a continuous one-piece moulding as claimed in claim
 1. 10. A lock as claimed in claim 8, wherein a biasing spring is disposed within the lock body to act between the body and the bolt head thereby to bias the bolt head outwardly of the body. 